Finnegan’s Fable: The Rhythmic Stone Curse

In this episode, we'll join a trio's comical quest in Ireland, where a kiss on the Blarney Stone turns into a hauntingly lyrical adventure.

Ga: Bhí lá breá geal ann, agus éirigh Finnegan go moch.
En: It was a beautiful bright day, and Finnegan got up early.

Ga: Ba fear é Finnegan a bhí ina chónaí in aice le Caisleán na Blarnan, teampall ársa le stair iontach.
En: Finnegan was a man who lived near Blarney Castle, an ancient temple with a wonderful history.

Ga: Lá amháin, shocraigh sé dul ar eachtra lena chara O'Malley agus a gcomharsa Murphy.
En: One day, he decided to go on an adventure with his friend O'Malley and their neighbor Murphy.

Ga: Ar a dturas, bhí sprioc amháin acu: póg a thabhairt ar an gCloch Cáiliúil, Cloch na Blarnan.
En: On their way, they had one goal: to kiss the Famous Stone, the Blarney Stone.

Ga: Nuair a shroich siad an caisleán mór le rá, chuala siad finscéalta faoi dhraíocht na cloiche.
En: When they reached the big castle, they heard legends about the magic of the stone.

Ga: Deirtear go mbronnann sí an chumhacht chainte is binbe ar an té a phógann í.
En: It is said that it grants the most persuasive power to whoever kisses it.

Ga: Bhí sceitimíní ar an triúr acu, ach go háirithe ar Finnegan, a bhí beagáinín cúthail agus nár thaitin sé leis mórán cainte a dhéanamh.
En: The three of them were excited, especially Finnegan, who was a bit shy and didn't like to talk much.

Ga: Ag druidim díreach suas go mullach an chaisleáin, bhí siad ag gaire agus ag magadh.
En: As they approached the top of the castle, they laughed and joked.

Ga: Bhí Finnegan chomh díograiseach sin go ndearna sé deifir chun bheith ar an gcéad duine a dhéanfadh pógadh ar an gCloch.
En: Finnegan was so enthusiastic that he hurried to be the first to kiss the Stone.

Ga: Ach bhí díobháil mór le teacht!
En: But trouble was coming!

Ga: Nuair a bhog sé chun cinn chun an gníomh a dhéanamh, shleamhnaigh sé, agus go hinstealltach phóg sé an Cloch Cáiliúil, ach droim ar ais!
En: When he moved forward to act, he slipped, and astonishingly kissed the Famous Stone, but backwards!

Ga: D'éirigh O'Malley agus Murphy le gáire, ach ansin thosaigh rud aisteach ag tarlú.
En: O'Malley and Murphy burst into laughter, but then something strange began to happen.

Ga: Thosaigh Finnegan ag caint i rímeanna gan stad, rud a chuir iontas ar gach éinne timpeall air.
En: Finnegan started speaking nonstop, which surprised everyone around him.

Ga: Gach uair a d'oscail sé a bhéal, scaoil sé amach véarsaí go réidh:"Bhí mé ag teacht gan briseadh, an Cloch chun pógadh,Achan fhocal anois, cosúil le port ceolmhar lóghmhar!
En: Every time he opened his mouth, he smoothly released verses:

"I was coming without delay, the Stone to kiss,
Every word now, like a lively melodious poem!"

Ga: "Shúigh O'Malley a ghéaga, agus Murphy, bhí sé faoi dhraíocht ag an gcleas.
En: O'Malley clapped his hands, and Murphy, he was under the spell of the trick.

Ga: Bhí gach aon duine ag breathnú orthu, agus iad ag smaoineamh cén fáth go raibh an fear seo chomh healaíonta leis na focail.
En: Everyone was looking at them, wondering why this man was so skilled with words.

Ga: Ba dhócha go raibh an draíocht cloiche iontach láidir!
En: Perhaps the stone's magic was incredibly strong!

Ga: Mar sin, chuaigh siad timpeall an chaisleáin, agus Finnegan á fheabhsú leo le rímeanna gan stad.
En: So, they went around the castle, and Finnegan entertained them with unstoppable verses.

Ga: I siopa na cuimhneacháin, rinne sé magadh:"Céard faoi phéire stocaí, nó hata deas bogaí,Nó cárta poist le seoladh, go dtí áit i bhfadódh!
En: In the souvenir shop, he joked:

"What about a pair of socks, or a nice soft hat,
Or a postcard with an address, to a faraway place!"

Ga: "Chuir na turasóirí scórtha fáilte roimh a thalant nua agus bhí siad uilig ag iarraidh a bheith ina gcuid den spraoi.
En: The tourists warmly welcomed his new talent, and they all wanted to be part of the fun.

Ga: Ach bhí tuirse ag teacht ar Finnegan.
En: But Finnegan was getting tired.

Ga: Bhí ualach na rímeanna ag éirí trom.
En: The weight of the verses was becoming heavy.

Ga: Bhí cnámh na heachtra seo ag tosú air a bheith níos measa ná scéal gan chríoch.
En: These verses were starting to be more of a burden than an endless story.

Ga: Ar deireadh, thit oíche, agus thug siad aghaidh ar theach tábhairne áitiúil, ag féachaint an bhféadfaidís deireadh a chur leis an mallacht "taitneamhach".
En: Finally, night fell, and they headed to the local tavern, wondering if they could end the "enjoyable" curse.

Ga: Rinne O'Malley agus Murphy comhrá le haoi dhruid agus d'fhiafraigh de, an raibh aon leigheas ar an ngalar ríme ag Finnegan.
En: O'Malley and Murphy engaged with a strange druid and asked if there was any cure for Finnegan's rhythmic ailment.

Ga: "A chara," arsa an druid, "níor chuala mé trácht air riamh ach creidim má phógann duine an chloch arís, ach an uair seo i gceart, go stadfar an draíocht.
En: "My friends," said the druid, "I have never heard of it before, but I believe that if someone kisses the stone again, but this time correctly, the magic spell will stop."

Ga: "Leis an eolas seo, ghlac siad an t-aistir arís chun na Cloiche.
En: With this information, they took the journey back to the Stone.

Ga: Rinne Finnegan gach rud mar is ceart an uair seo, agus mar a bheadh draíocht ann, stop a thallann ríme go tobann.
En: This time, Finnegan did everything right, and as if there was magic, the rhythmic nonsense suddenly ceased.

Ga: Bhí faoiseamh mór ar Finnegan, agus rinne O'Malley agus Murphy gáire faoi dheireadh.
En: Finnegan felt great relief, and O'Malley and Murphy finally laughed.

Ga: D'fhoghlaim siad go léir ceacht luachmhar an lá sin: Go mbíonn na heachtraí is fearr ag an té atá ullamh le súgradh a dhéanamh, ach go gcaithfear cúram a dhéanamh le draíocht na hÉireann!
En: They all learned a valuable lesson that day: That the best adventures happen to those who are ready to have fun, but that one must also handle the magic of Ireland with care!

Ga: Gur fhás an cairdeas eatarthu in oíche aisteach agus iontach ag Caisleán na Blarnan, agus beidh scéal Finnegan agus an Chloch Rímear san áit sin go deo ina gcroíthe.
En: A strange and wonderful friendship grew between them at Blarney Castle that night, and the story of Finnegan and the Rhythmic Stone will forever remain in their hearts.